Medical pot wins Florida ballot spot

A proposed constitutional amendment to allow the medical use of marijuana will go before Florida voters in November after the state Supreme Court narrowly approved the ballot language Monday.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORT

A proposed constitutional amendment to allow the medical use of marijuana will go before Florida voters in November after the state Supreme Court narrowly approved the ballot language Monday.The 4-3 decision is a victory for personal injury lawyer John Morgan, who spent $4 million on a medical marijuana petition drive, and a defeat for Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi, who fought to keep the question off the ballot.The decision comes three days after Morgan secured enough voter signatures to make the ballot. He made a massive push in December and January to beat the Feb. 1 deadline instead of waiting for the Supreme Court decision — a gamble that has now paid off.“In our businesses, our cases are against the tobacco industries, pharmaceutical industries, big car companies, so we’re used to gambles, but we take calculated gambles,” Morgan said. “We like to win and we don’t just go down a rat hole unless we think we can win.”Bondi said the matter is now up to voters.“I encourage every Floridian to read the full amendment in order to understand the impact it could have on Floridians,” she said in a statement issued by her office.Gov. Rick Scott backed Bondi’s effort to keep the question off the ballot.“I have a great deal of empathy for people battling difficult diseases and I understand arguments in favor of this initiative,” Scott said in a statement released by his office. “But having seen the terrible effects of alcohol and drug abuse firsthand, I cannot endorse sending Florida down this path and I would personally vote against it. No matter my personal beliefs, however, a ballot initiative would be up to the voters to decide.”Big John, a former Volusia County councilman who has been advocating for the legalization of medical marijuana on his radio talk show, said he saw the benefits of it 20 years ago when one of his friends was dying of AIDS. He said the plant helped alleviate her pain in her dying days.“I’m for anything that helps people with pain and illness,” he said.But former Florida Surgeon General, Dr. Frank Farmer of Ormond Beach, said Monday he is “not going to vote for it.” Farmer, who wrestled with an explosion of painkiller pill mills as surgeon general, is worried legalized medical marijuana will produce a similar situation where the drug becomes widely available from unregulated dispensaries. “I feel like it should not pass because from my medical perspective and knowledge, there is no scientific evidence that shows medical marijuana helps people,” Farmer said. Medical marijuana is legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia, and Colorado and Washington state allow recreational use.Polls have shown strong support for the measure in Florida. It must receive 60 percent approval from voters, and Morgan said his attention now turns to the campaign to get the measure passed. He plans a voter registration drive and advertising campaign leading up to the election, as well as an effort to help supporters get to polls.The Democrats hoping to challenge Scott — former state Sen. Nan Rich and former Gov. Charlie Crist — support medical marijuana.“This is an issue of compassion, trusting doctors, and trusting the people of Florida,” said Crist, who was a Republican when he served as governor from 2007 to 2011. “I will vote for it.”Bondi challenged the ballot summary, saying the language was misleading and a more widespread use of marijuana would be allowed than what voters would be led to believe.Justices Barbara Pariente, Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and James Perry said the ballot language was clear.“The proposed amendment has a logical and natural oneness of purpose — namely, whether Floridians want a provision in the state constitution authorizing the medical use of marijuana, as determined by a licensed Florida physician,” they wrote. “The ballot title and summary fairly inform voters of the chief purpose of the amendment and will not mislead voters, who will be able to cast an intelligent and informed ballot.”Justices Ricky Polston, Charles Canady and Jorge Labarga dissented.“Placing this initiative’s title and summary on the ballot will result in Floridians voting on a constitutional amendment in disguise,” Polston wrote. He took issue with the ballot summary saying medical marijuana would be allowed for patients with debilitating diseases, but the amendment also allows use for patients with debilitating conditions, which might not be a disease.Staff Writers Chris Graham and Patricio Balona, and Brendan Farrington and Gary Fineout of The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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